As we read the novel, prepare to respond to the BLOGS with specific quotes/evidence from the text. Make sure your quotes include page numbers from the novel and connect to the themes of American realism: freedom, the American dream, racism, regionalism, survival, "individual vs. society," and "civilized society vs. the wilderness.
Huck Finn Censorship Blog
How does Mark Twain address the issue of slavery in Parts I and II of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn? How is racist language used in the text and should it be omitted? Why or why not? (300 words) Respond to one classmate (50 to 100 words).
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ReplyDeleteMark Twain addresses the issue of slavery by Jim being a slave, Huck meeting people who have slaves, and him interacting with the Duke and King that make him feel enslaved. Mark Twain uses the word nigger many times in this book. The use of this word shows how in those days that was the way people talked and acted towards African Americans. I think that the harsh language gives the novel its character and helps express the theme of the story overall. The word nigger is very cruel but I think it was necessary to give the novel more emotion and for the reading to understand more about the culture and treatment of African Americans during this time. The word nigger could be replaced with African American but the idea of the harsh words against them wouldn't be as evident. The issue of slavery was shown in part 1 and 2 because Jim was running away and Huck to help him. This also revealed that slaves ran away a lot and was a normal thing. There was slavery that was not just with slaves because Huck was feeling enslaved by the King and Duke because he felt that he had to do what they said and make sure to not make them mad. Mark Twain had these examples of slavery to prove that slavery was a common thing during this time, especially since the Grangerfords had a slave for every member of the family. Huck was able to communicate with the slaves and see how the family treated them. This made Huck think more about how he was helping a slave runaway and how he knew it wasn't the right thing to do but he had to because there were friends. The widow was the beginning of his idea of slavery because Jim was a slave for her and Miss Watson. This grew through his journey and how he was viewing enslavement in many stops along the river. Huck was effected by the culture when he said “I couldn't work myself up for a nigger, but done it, and I warn’t ever sorry for it afterward, neither. I didn't do him no more mean tricks, and I wouldn't done that one if I’d a knowed it would make him feel that way”(94). This quote is revealing that Huck was aware of the treatment of African American’s and he had to get used to it.
ReplyDeleteI thought that it was a good idea to include the Duke and King in your response because I did not focus on them making Huck and Jim feel enslaved. I agreed with your point about the harsh words giving the story more emotion because it affected the reader in a negative way.
DeleteMark Twain addresses the issue of slavery in parts one and two of “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” mainly through Huck and Jim’s relationship. Twain expresses his feelings toward slavery when Huck is trying to decide what is right and wrong in the situation when Huck was trying to decide whether or not to tell on Jim. Huck says, “Then I thought a minute, and says to myself, hold on; s’pose you’d ‘a’ done right and give Jim up, would you felt better than what you do now? No, says I, I’d feel bad-I’d feel just the same way I do now” (89). This quote is an example of Huck using his conscience. Mark Twain wants to show the feelings that Huck would have experienced if he had actually done the wrong thing and given Jim up. Huck is beginning to care about Jim, which makes the reader feel that their friendship is stronger than the issue of slavery. Huck was growing up with racism surrounding him, but he finally started thinking for himself when he ran away and became independent. Racist language is used by Twain throughout the text to show regionalism and local color. Since Twain was a supporter of realism, he used regionalism to show what Huck and Jim’s lives were like. The racist language was used as a tool to show how African Americans were looked down upon in their society. Twain did not use this language to actually put anyone down, but instead to show that people were being put down and there should be an end to this practice. The words should not be omitted because they are an example of the hardships many people had to go through. In order to make a change, people need to see an example of what not to do.
ReplyDeleteI like how you notice the fact that there is an example of slavery shown between Huck and Jim. You then get into how Huck realizes that giving up Jim would be the wrong thing to do even though he as been taught different. Huck's feelings show and you do a very nice job portraying that. Overall, job well done and very good analysis!
DeleteIn parts one and two of “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”, Mark Twain portrays slavery in two ways. The relationship between Huck and Jim, and the relationship between Huck and Pap. In chapter 16, Huck faces his conscience: he does not know whether or not he should turn Jim in or help him into freedom. Also, the relationship between Huck and Pap also shows how slavery was an issue, even if it did not include an African American. “Once he locked me in and was gone for three days.” (24-25.) This shows how Pap kept Huck enslaved. He was not able to leave and was not given food or water for three whole days. This was also a way that Twain addressed slavery in the book. I think that Twain used these examples of slavery to show how common it was. For example, when Huck met the Grangerfords, their family had a slave for each family member. This did not seem to make Huck wonder why they had so many slaves, he just looked at the family as more wealthy than others because he owned about 200 slaves. Slavery was so normal, and throughout the story, I think Huck starts to somewhat realize that slavery is wrong the more he gets to know Jim and what his life is like as a slave. Harsh language was also used throughout part one and two of this book. Many times “nigger” would be said, even by Huck. This seemed to be the norm. Huck was brought up this way, in fact everyone during this time was brought up this way. It was not considered racist at the time. It was used as an everyday word. Overall, examples of slavery were used all over parts one and two, and I’m sure there will be more as the story continues. Harsh language will be used throughout the whole story, but that only gives the readers a better idea of what kind of language was used during this time period.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I liked about your analysis was how you compare Huck and Pap's relationship to slavery. Pap does enslave Huck when he locks him in the cabin and when he demands money for alcohol. Most people wouldn't even consider that. You had a well thought out response, nice job.
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ReplyDeleteMark twain addresses the issue of slavery in Huck Finn by including slaves that influence Huck throughout the story. The first slave that is introduced is Jim, Miss Watson’s slave. Huck only sees Jim as a slave that he lives with at Miss Watson’s until his father takes him away. Once Huck escapes from the cabin his father is keeping him in, he finds Jim on the island that he is hiding on as well. Huck asks Jim and Jim says that he ran away because Miss Watson was going to sell him to New Orleans and separate him from his family. Other slaves that Twain includes in the story are the Grangerford’s slaves, where there is one for every member of the family. Huck is different than most people in his time because he sees Jim as a friend and as a human being, rather than a piece of property that can be sold. Racist language is used throughout the story when white people are talking about African American slaves. The language is used in a condescending way. One person who really hated slaves was Pap; he says, “when they told me there was a state in this country where they’d let that nigger vote, I drawed out. I says I’ll never vote again…I says to the people, why ain’t this nigger put up at auction and sold?” (27). He is an example of the ignorance of white men. I do not think racist language should be omitted because it gives students insight to what life was like back when speaking that way was appropriate and not frowned upon. Not censoring those racist words allows students to learn about the difficulties that slaves had to endure on a day to day basis. Allowing students to read the racist language gives them a way to learn from the mistakes of the past, and allows them to grow and continue to help the country grow.
ReplyDeleteYour analysis of racism in Mark Twain’s novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, addresses both the examples of it within the story and reasoning to keep it uncensored. I liked that you mentioned that it is important for readers to learn from the mistakes of past generations so they can shift away from ignorance and hatred.
DeleteFrom your response, I liked how you incorporated the many slaves that Huck and Jim had come across and how it was a variety, and not just focused on Jim being a slave. I agree with not omitting the vulgar words that were spoken to towards slaves and how you touched on the importance of the language used effects the people our age.
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ReplyDeleteIn Mark Twain’s novel, “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” he addresses the issue of slavery in a pre-Civil War, southern United States. In the beginning of the book, Twain mentions slavery as a fact of life in the south. Mrs. Watson is shown to be a devout religious person who praises herself on the belief that she will go to heaven; however, she is hypocritical, as she owns slaves. Mark Twain points out that people who are presented as good and prestigious members of a community are seen in the evil institution of owning slaves. As Huck Finn begins his life on the river after his escape from his father, he encounters Miss. Watson’s runaway slave named Jim. Despite Huck’s conscience telling him he should not help Jim escape, he decides that he doesn’t what others would think. Huck’s moral struggle arises later in his encounter with the slave hunters where he says “I was paddling off, all in a sweat to tell on him; but when he says this, it seemed to kind of take the tuck all out of me” (87). The usage of derogatory language towards African American’s and lack of regard for their wellbeing appears often in the novel. Twain chose to use the term “nigger” and other phrases in the character’s speech because it was commonplace and historically accurate for the South. The harsh ways that characters refer to African Americans reveal the underlying emotions of people in that time while also provoking emotion and empathy for the slaves. Mark Twain does not censor the treatment of African Americans as not even deserving of citizenship or worthy of appreciation. Twain writes the novel from Huck’s perspective so that the reader can truly understand the thoughts of white southerners who do not object to holding slaves. The rampant usage of racist language through Parts I and II should not be omitted from the story because their removal would detract from the overall impression the reader is left with. By keeping the text uncensored, the message Mark Twain makes about the cruelties of slavery is kept whole and strong.
ReplyDeleteI like how you talked about how slavery was a way of life in the south and the everyday slave owners were similar to Mrs. Watson. I thought that the quote that you used was directly connected to the rest of your ideas. I also liked how he said that the harsh language being taken out would damper with the impression that the reader is left with.
DeleteMark Twain addresses the issue of slavery in part I and part II of “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” through the characters of Huck and Jim. Huck’s conscience beats himself up on the aspect of him helping a slave escape, but he gradually grows immune to the thought when he and Jim get closer. After a long time of Huck being at Jim’s side he realized that he no longer looked at Jim as a slave, and more as a regular human being. Gradually, Jim becomes a father to Huck since Huck’s father isn’t so much of a father figure in his life. In chapter 15, Huck has trouble apologizing to Jim because a white person has never felt guilty towards a slave. For instance, this is Huck’s conscience speaking, “It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to a nigger; but I done it, and I warn’t ever sorry for it afterwards, neither. I didn’t do him no more mean tricks, and I wouldn’t done that one If I’d a knowed it would make him feel that way” (84). There’s a clear issue with slavery when Jim runs away from Miss Watson’s land because he overheard her say that he would sell Jim for $800. Mark Twain addresses the emotions and fears of slavery through Jim’s action of running away. Jim running away conveys the cruelty and corrupt mentality that slavery brings upon a slave. Racist language is used in the text, such as the word “nigger.” There’s no sense in omitting the word “nigger” from the text because then it would take away the realness of how slaves were treated; verbally. The vulgar language used towards slaves and their race will forever be an insult to them and the word was used negatively to proclaim white dominance.
ReplyDeleteI like how you talked about Huck and Jim's relationship and how it progressed throughout the story. I also agree that the racist language should not be omitted to keep the story realistic to the time. Your use of quotes is smart to help prove your point and get your ideas across.
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ReplyDeleteMark Twain addresses the issue of slavery in the first part of “Huckleberry Finn” mostly through Huck Finn’s relationships and interactions with others in the novel: specifically the ones between him and Jim as well as him and Pap. The most obvious issue of slavery is shown through Jim who is a slave. Huck spends almost all of parts one and two of the story with Jim. Slowly, as the story goes on, Huck begins to realize how important Jim is to him and how he should continue to help him. He realizes how their friendship is more important than Jim’s skin color or his social status. Huck even says, “It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to a nigger—but I done it, and I warn’t ever sorry for it afterwards, neither (84). This shows how originally he would never have wanted to help a slave, but once he “humbles myself” he realizes how that was the right thing to do and he regrets nothing. Huck’s relationship with his father is the less obvious issue of slavery in the novel. When people think “slavery” they think about African Americans, however, in this book, Huck is basically enslaved by his dad. How Pap poorly treats Huck and demands so much of him, is slavery in its own form. Racist language is used throughout the novel mostly by the use of the word “nigger”. In today’s society, using that word is considered highly offensive. Many feel as if it should be omitted from the novel because of how kids nowadays should not think that it is a word to use regularly. However, when Twain wrote the novel, he wanted to give the full effect of life back in the 1800s and he felt that including how they spoke was best appropriate.
ReplyDeleteI found your ideas in this blog to be deep. This is seen in the way that you respected the idea that Twain was not being a racist; rather, Twain was writing in a different time period. this made me rethink my initial opinion as well as make some other connections that I had not seen before. Overall, this was a well throughout post and I really enjoyed.
DeleteI really like how you hit all the points that you needed to, while keeping the flow of the response. You brought up the fact that the King and Duke were in a way enslaving Huck which is something that not everyone may realize right away so I am glad you addressed it. Also you talked about how the language Twain used might not be appropriate today, but it was during the time period of Huck and Jim so he simply wanted to make it realistic.
ReplyDeleteMark Twain addresses the issue of slavery in parts I and II. This can be seen mainly through the character Jim and also by looking at the way Huck doesn't see out Jim. One of these statements is that the book views slavery as this twisted sickening idea. This can be seen at one part of the book while Huck is thinking over what Jim says, “ He was saying how the first thing he would do when he got to a free state he would go… would buy his wife, “(86). This shows the way that slavery tore apart families and separated them. Ergo, this shows the idea that slavery was this messed up idea that repressed and forced families apart. This in turn makes a broader statement about slavery, and that statement is that it is a twisted idea that separates families. The next way that slavery is addressed is through Huck not selling out Jim. This addresses the way that slavery goes against good moral values. this can be seen in the internal struggle that Huck goes through while deciding whether to sell Jim out or not. This shows the way that the idea of slavery went against Huck's conscience which represents the way that slavery goes against good moral values. This in turn shows the way that Mark Twain addresses the issue of slavery in a clever and logical manner. Overall, racist words should remain in this book. This is due to the way that Mark Twain used this language in order to express the regional differences in the racist south. That is what makes this book a beautiful piece of irrefutable art. It also allows Twain to make this more than a story, but a historical record of southern ideas and beliefs. Overall, I believe that this book should not be censored.
ReplyDeleteI thought that you did a great job on your response. What you said about how the racist language should stay in because it showed the regional differences during that time was exactly what I was thinking. Along with that, what you said about the issue of slavery during the book was something that I agree with. Overall, really well done writing.
DeleteIn Mark Twain’s novel “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”, Twain addresses the issue of slavery throughout the story. This is shown mainly in the character Jim, who was a slave owned by Miss Watson. Jim escapes later on and meets up with Huck, and this is when slavery becomes a much larger topic in the story overall. All during the adventure that Jim and Huck are on, Huck faces strong moral dilemmas on whether or not he should turn in Jim. “Well, I can tell you it made me all over trembly and feverish, too, to hear him, because I begun to get it through my head that he was most free—and who was to blame for it? Why, me.”(85) is just an example of how Huck was affected by the issue of slavery. The reason why he didn’t turn in Jim was because they were basically friends at that point, which was pretty much unheard of at that point, especially in the south. On the topic about how racist language was used, the author, Mark Twain, had used the word “nigger” quite often, which is correct for the time and the place that the book takes place in. In my opinion, this language should definitely not be taken out of the book. The reason behind this is because it makes the story much more believable because it is what life was really like in the pre-Civil War southern United States. While one could argue that the racist language doesn’t add anything to the story and should be taken out, it is much easier to agree with the language that is in it because for starters, it is what the author had wanted to be in the book in the first place. Along with that, it makes it more authentic. All in all, slavery is a major issue addressed in the book, and racist language is used, but for the book to be more realistic.
ReplyDeleteI like how your analysis on the idea of slavery throughout the book. The quote that you added also goes along well with your argument. Overall, you used your literature tools very well.
DeleteMark Twain addresses the idea of slavery as one of the facts of life. He doesn’t go about questioning it or addressing it really at all, he just shows that is a part of life in the south. He does silently have a little protest of slavery when he talks about Huck questioning whether he should turn Jim in. Huck finally decides on helping Jim because he thinks it is the right thing to do. This is Mark Twain saying that helping runaway slaves is the right thing to do. He is also saying in this action that slavery is not morally right. That is why he choses to write about a character that helps slaves and believes that his actions are morally correct. Mark Twain was not an abolitionist, but he certainly didn’t sit back on the idea of slavery. He wanted it to be seen that slaves were treated poorly and how they acted because of their poor treatment as well. Racist language is used in the text to represent what actually would be said. Twain wants to represent how the story would would have actually gone about. He wants to give the reader a true representation of the culture in the south during this time. The racist text in this book should not be omitted. It is an important part of the book. Without it the reader would not know truly the culture and the true idea that Twain is trying to communicate through the text. The racist text should stay to keep the book the way that Twain wrote it. Twain included the text because it was how people talked back then and to show others what actually went on. If it was omitted people wouldn’t see how poorly other acted towards minorities and how poorly they talked about them.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great analysis of how slavery was in this book. I liked how you said in your response to the slavery in this book as slavery being one of the facts of life in the story. I liked how you referred to Mark Twain a lot considering that he had the original idea in writing the text.
DeleteMark Twain addresses the issue of slavery throughout the first two parts of this story by showing how ridiculous it is through the character of Jim. As the story progresses Huck begins to learn that even though Jim is black he is just like any other person. Huck learns this from Jim's care and compassion for his family and others. His weeping over missing his family shows Huck that he has compassion just like any other person. The most important example of Jim showing his compassion is when he weeps over the time he hit his daughter because she didn’t close the door. The growing friendship between the two boys also shows Huck that Jim is just like any of his other friends. Twain also uses slavery to mock certain characters in the story like Miss Watson who claims to be a well practiced catholic but owns slaves. This kind of hypocrisy shows how ridiculous slavery is. In the text racist language is used to emphasize how people viewed slaves at the time. Through the use of derogatory terms slaves are labeled to be less than white people, not as good. This shows what the overall view of the time was. People thought that slaves were less than human, and the use of racist language and profanity shows that. I think that the racist language should be kept in the story as it is accurate language for the time. It makes it more realistic and adds emphasis to the point of how ridiculous slavery and racism are. The constant use of racist terms contrasts to what we are used to and shows us that racism is truly wrong. Kids my age are mature enough to read it with this language without a problem so I see no problem with keeping it.
ReplyDeleteIn Parts I and II Mark Twain shows slavery in a few different ways. The main examples of slavery include Huck, Jim, and even Huck's’ father. In Part I an example would be Jim and Huck. While they are travelling down the river Huck gets caught in a moral crisis. He thinks about how he is helping Jim, who is a slave, escape from Miss Watson. Huck is caught between turning Jim in or just letting it go. The friendship between Huck and Jim had grown too strong and Huck was disinclined to turn Jim in. Another example is how Huck was trapped inside the cabin by his father. Pap locked Huck in the cabin for three days. Even though Huck is not actually a slave he was under strict control of his father. Mark Twain also uses a good amount of racist language. One instance is that Twain uses the word “nigger” often when relating to slaves. He is not being pernicious, he is just using the language of the time. Many people do like the language used by Twain. The book has been banned before and the language has been changed. People need to accept it and realize that what Twain really meant from it. Twain was not even racist; he was strongly against slavery, so by using the austere language he was not trying belittle African Americans. The language in the book should not be change. Every book was written s specific way. If words are substituted it doesn’t have the same feel and won’t get the same point across to the reader. Twain wrote the book according to his time periods’ standards, and the language was acceptable then. If a story was written today, but with this same style of language, that might be a different story. This book is a huge part of American literature, why would we change it.
ReplyDeleteIn Mark Twain's novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Slavery is a dogma of most of the character in the novel and of people in the world around Twain while he wrote the novel because that was part of the lifestyle back in the 1800s. The baneful word “nigger” is used often in this novel because it was part of their vocab which that word nowadays is not a good word to say because it is a very racist word and it profiles the certain race of African Americans. Mainly when they say this pernicious word they are talking about the slaves and in this novel Mrs. Watson’s slave is Jim and Jim becomes very important to Huck when Huck goes off on his own and is fending for himself. Jim keeps Huck company when they meet on the Island when Jim has ran away and Huck faked his own death. Huck’s first instinct is to turn Jim in because he is highly against hiding a slave that has ran away especially from his own house that he used to stay in. But then Jim grows on Huck and Huck uses Jim to his advantage to help both of them get to their point of Cairo down the river. Huck thought that they could become great friends and Huck realizes that he needs Jim to be able to survive and find their way down river because it is easier with two people rather than one person. This aspect of slavery in the first and second parts of the book play a major role in showing that it is able to be broken apart for example, when Huck finds a way out to escape from his Pap and when Jim escapes from Mrs. Watson. In Jim’s case it is more of an example of slavery because Jim is actually a slave and Huck is also an example because in some sense Huck is a slave to his dad because he gets beaten by his drunken father and hates it when he sees his father. Huck and Jim find a way out of their slavery lives and start to live on their own and they start off with a decent start in their lone life together on the river.
ReplyDeleteI thought that it was very smart how you pointed out that the racial language helped to make the novel what it is and without it the novel wouldn't be as realistic. You were spot on about Huck wanting to take advantage of Jim at the start, but then becoming his closest friend. This was a very well thought out blog.
DeleteIn The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Mark Twain makes slavery not just prevalent in the obvious ways, but also in symbolism throughout the sections. One example was how Pap Finn felt enslaved to alcohol throughout the novel. He always somehow made money or got some from pure luck sometimes and ended up blowing it at the bar. He’d act like he was about to get turning his life around and end up falling into the same cycle of despair. The only one that was able to save Pap was himself and it became simple to see that that was not going to happen. The next huge hidden theme to slavery was Huck and Jim acting as the slave to the con men that called themselves the Duke and the King. Though Huck ended up seeing through this scheme he still went along with it because it helped to draw attention away from them themselves making it more believable with two adults traveling on the river with them.The suspicions were brought way down, for Huck letting the con men travel with them was probably worth it in the end. Huck and Jim had to call them majesty and always give them the wigwam to sleep in. It’s like they took advantage of those poor runaways and didn’t think twice about it. Looking at the racist language in the novel I don’t believe that it should be omitted, the language is part of what gives the novel it’s dogma, it’s what makes it what it is. It shows how it really was back in the days of slavery and hides nothing on that subject. Without the pernicious language this would just be another needlessly censored classic turned from greatness to just another story. Just because a book tells the truth of what it used to be like doesn’t mean we have to be sheltered from it.
ReplyDeleteI liked how you mentioned that Mark Twain uses symbolism with Pap's alcoholism to comment about slavery. I also like how you mentioned the duke and king travelling with Huck and Jim, I had not thought about that as a way that Mark Twain commented about slavery but I agree that it is.
DeleteMark Twain addresses the issue of slavery in his book “The Adventures of HuckleBerry Finn” by using satire. Satire is the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, and ridicule to criticize people’s stupidity. Twain uses characters like Miss Watson, Huck, Pap, and Mrs.Loftus to humorously describe how they acted and how they treated slaves. All of these characters were lower class and although some seemed educated they were all still dim-witted. Twain describes them this way to make fun of the stereotypical ways that slave owners and most whites that supported slavery acted. Satire is a good way to express opinions about political and social issues as it is often entertaining and humorous. By making his readers laugh it is easier for them to be persuaded into believing his opinion. Twain also addresses the issue of slavery through Jim and Huck’s relationship. Huck, in the beginning, looks down at Jim like he is just property. Deep down the reader can tell that Huck is struggling to decide whether or not Jim is a human-being or property. Even though Huck’s initial attitude toward Jim is that Jim is just a slave he becomes Huck’s loyal and caring friend. Eventually he even becomes more of a father figure to Huck. By spending time with Jim, Huck decides that he is a human-being and not property. Racist language is used in the text because Twain uses it within his satire. He uses it to emphasize and exaggerate the treatment of slaves by racist people. This language should not be omitted from the book because if it was it would not be Twain’s original work and it wouldn’t give the same impact on his readers that he wanted. Although this book is not nonfiction it is based off of real social issues of the United States and by removing them we would be misinforming readers of the treatment of slaves.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy how you included satire in this reaction journal, although you could have used more textual support your statements are solid and you back it up with support. I like how you called Jim a father figure in the novel, I agree with that idea
DeleteIn, "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn", Mark Twain addresses the themes and concepts of slavery through multiple different characters and relationships. A few of these characters whose relationships contain a theme or feeling of slavery are between those of Huck and Jim, and as well as Huck and Pap. Huck and Jim depict this relationship in a seemingly typical way; Jim is a slave and Huck is a free young white boy. In the beginning go the story, Huck and Jim have a relationship which one would find typical of these two very different seeming people, however as the tale progresses, the two find that they are not very different after all and form a bond of brotherhood on their journey together. "says to myself, hold on; s’pose you’d ‘a’ done right and give Jim up, would you felt better than what you do now? No, says I, I’d feel bad" (89) This quote describes a change in Huck's conscience when it came to protecting his friend, Jim. One of Huck's largest internal battles with himself in the novel, is the problems he has with actually protecting Jim; a runaway slave. However, Huck and Jim become friends, and in turn Huck's conscience becomes aware that protecting his friend is something which he must do. Twain's use of dialect in this piece comes out with a large use of the "n-word" a term which often makes people shudder when heard today. His use of this racist language is what has made people in the past try to ban his books and call them inappropriate for young children to read. This language should not be omitted from the literature of Mark Twain, as it creates a historical text and captures true events and realities of the past. Although the use of this language is not something which remains common today, it is not something which should be so censored that people know nothing of it, or of how much this racial slur was thrown around to spite those of the African American race.
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